"Nephew, you have not answered my question. If you were to marry her, she would have to stay here."
"Auntie! I think we should not be speaking of this to one another." He paused. "Besides, I do not believe marrying her to keep her here is a good reason to ask her to become my woman."
"It is as good as any other," said Brings-the-water-woman. "Besides, having come a very long way to be here, why would she leave so quickly?"
Because Gray Falcon was unwilling to say too much, he didn't answer. He simply kept walking.
"Perhaps you fear she may not like it here, since she has been raised differently from us. But, have you not taken notice of how your sister and A'sitápi talk and laugh while they work? Everything about A'sitápi says she likes it here and would like to stay. Besides, her sister is married to your friend, Eagle Heart. Perhaps she needs a reason to stay. A romance, perhaps?"
Gray Falcon shook his head, but he was spared a response when Brings-the-water-woman continued, saying, "Do you not know, nephew? Do you not see how she is when she is with you, even to this day? She loves you. She has always loved you. I tell you true: I think she is here to stay."
They had, at last, stepped up to his parents' lodge, and, accompanying his auntie to the outside fires where food was prepared, he turned to hisaaáhaand said, "I will think on your words. It is always a good day when I speak with you."
Brings-the-water-woman smiled and touched his hand. "She will never leave here. This I know. When a woman loves a man as she does you, she is here to stay."
Gray Falcon kept his own counsel about the matter and didn't answer. Instead, he stepped away to go to his own lodge and change his clothing.
"Where do you go, my nephew?"
"I must change the way I am dressed. I believe we have guests coming to my parents' lodge this evening."
"But, why change?" asked Brings-the-water-woman. "The evening is hot, and you are decently dressed in breechcloth and moccasins. Only good friends are to be here tonight. Besides, there is little time. Your meal is almost ready."
Gray Falcon sighed, but decided to do as his auntie suggested. After all, the night air was quite warm, and she was right: breechcloth and moccasins were always in good taste.
****
So far the evening had gone well, even though Gray Falcon's mother seemed a little aloof toward her. Indeed, since all of the women in the family were preparing the meal, Amelia had now met most of Gray Falcon's relatives. And, it was with relief when Amelia realized most of the women in his family were accepting of her...all except his mother, and, of course, her opinion was the most important.
But, perhaps she was wrong about Gray Falcon's mother, White Antelope Woman. Perhaps her attention was divided since she was supervising the cooking of the evening meal, as well as serving it.
Still, Amelia happily recognized Gray Falcon's auntie, whom she had met five years ago. Truly, their reunion was a joyous one and filled Amelia with encouragement.
"Aaáhs, auntie." Amelia spoke the name in Blackfeet, then switched to sign. "I am happy to see you again."
Aaáhs reached out and took Amelia in her arms before signing, "And, my heart is full of happiness to see you all grown up now. And, here you are, so pretty."
Amelia smiled. "You flatter me," she signed. "Perhaps you could show me what I should do to help with the meal?"
"You need do no more than watch what we do; that is all."
"Noohk, but," spoke Sweet Woman in Blackfeet while also signing her words, "I do not think she should stand aside while we serve the men. I believe she would do well to help us serve the food since there are so many of my father's guests gathered here tonight. At the very least, she should bring Gray Falcon his meal, since she is hisotáatomo,his guest."
"Áa," said Gray Falcon's auntie. "I believe my niece is correct in this matter. Since my nephew invited A'sitápi here, she should be the one to serve him."
"But, are we not asking a little much of her?" asked Gray Falcon's mother as she turned toward Amelia. "After all, she is new here, and she might feel we ask too much of her. And, since she is also a guest, should we not beseech her to tell us what she wishes?" This said, White Antelope Woman gave her a warm smile.
Feeling suddenly shy, Amelia returned White Antelope Woman's friendly expression.
But, it was Sweet Woman who spoke up, and she said, "You are kind to think of this, my mother. Perhaps my brother's guest might watch us serve the other men, but my brother asked me to teach her all of our ways. Because he has asked this of me, I think she should bring my brother his food."
White Antelope Woman nodded and, turning toward Amelia, said, "Then it shall be as you say, my daughter, unless our guest disagrees. Do you?"
With a brief smile, Amelia shook her head. If this were how the women served the men, then she had best learn to do it.
And, so it was agreed. Luckily, no one seemed to see Sweet Woman turn around and grin widely at Amelia.
****
